Missing by Margaret Daley

Author:Margaret Daley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: a midsized western town with ranches, a military working canine, center for disadvantaged children, child psychologist heroine, children kidnapped by child trafficking ring, clean and wholesome stories, exgreen beret heroine
Publisher: Margaret Daley

Chapter Eleven

“Who else wants an extra cookie?” Emma asked the three children sitting in Brody’s office at the Pals Center with Charlie at the side of Beth.

“Me,” all three said at the same time.

Emma smiled. When Brody had brought the hamburgers, milk, and fries for them to eat, he’d also picked up the chocolate chip cookies. Watching them stuff the food into their mouths cinched her decision to give them a home until a more permanent place for them was found. Their needs demanded she do something about them.

When Brody returned to his office after calling Nick and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Emma moved off to the side with him to see what was happening and whispered, “When will someone be here from DHS?”

“Within an hour. The child welfare specialist is across town with another client. Nick will be here soon. He was going by the shelter to talk to Mathew before he headed here. He would see what Mathew could tell him about Jack and where he might have gone. Bobby Joe was moved to a safehouse. He didn’t want to risk Bobby Joe’s life. The apartment isn’t the best place to guard him. Nick wants you to interview him again.”

“When?”

“Today. He’ll talk to you about it later.”

When Beth stood up, Emma paused to see what the child was doing. The five-year-old closed the distance between her and the sofa and eased down onto the middle cushion. Charlie followed her and laid down on the floor near her feet. Beth held a whole cookie and a half eaten one. She broke off a small piece and tossed it to Charlie then crammed as much as she could into her mouth. The sight of the child’s frantic movements, as though any second the treat would disappear, caused Emma’s throat to swell with emotions she was trying to keep under control. Her tears would probably only alarm the kids.

“Beth, take your time and enjoy what you’re eating. I don’t want you to choke on the cookie. If you want anything else, you can get it. Brody brought extra food.”

The five-year-old hopped to her feet, hurried back to the desk, and snatched another hamburger then returned to the couch.

Emma smiled at Beth “Remember to chew slowly. It’s better for you.” Then Emma swung her attention toward the older two siblings and realized they were also shoveling the food into their mouths as fast as they could. “Terri and Danny, the same goes for you two. What you have won’t be taken away. I don’t want you to get sick eating too much too fast. Okay?”

Terri nodded, put her second hamburger down, and took a long sip of her milk. Then Danny followed his older sister’s actions.

Emma checked her watch and said in a low voice, “The kids will be here soon.”

“Yeah. Stan left in the van to pick up the first batch at the Harrison Apartments. Group activities will start in a half hour. When I came in, several parents had already dropped off their children.

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